Garment-clasp.



No. 640,658. Patented Ian. 2, I900. E. D. HINKLEY.

GARMENT CLASP. (Application filed June 17, 1:399.

(No Model.)

ML/Q. $044M nms PEYERS 00.. sumo-urns was" UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

ELISHA D. HINKLEY, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

GARM ENT-CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,658, dated January 2, 1900.

Application filed June 17,1899. Serial No. 720,916. (No model.)

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELISHA D. HINKLEY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garment- Clasps; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will-enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in garment-clasps, my object being to provide a device of this class which shall be simple in construction, economical in cost, reliable, durable, and efficient in use; and to these ends the invention consists of the features hereinafter described and claimed, all of which will be fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is what I will term a front view of my improved garmentclasp. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same or a view of the side opposite that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device open, the cooperating jaws and hinged joint beingshown in section. Fig. 4 is a top or plan view of one of the clasp members. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the other clasp member. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the same.

To facilitate distinctness of illustration, the device is shown in the drawings very much larger than what I consider normal size for ordinary purposes, though it must be understood that so far as the construct-ion is concerned the size is immaterial. v

Similar reference characters indicating corresponding parts in the views, let the numerals 5 and 6 respectively designate the members of the clasp, which are connected in operative relation by a hinge-pin 8. The part 5 is provided with a rectangular opening 5. On opposite sides of this opening are formed slits or cuts 5. On opposite sides of each of these cuts the metal is pressed in opposite di- 1 rections, as shown at 5 and 5 to form openings 5 and bearings for the hinge-pin. Ihis construction also increases the strength of the member. The body portion 5 of the member is bent at 5 and turned back toward itself to form a spring 5 The member 6 is provided with two recesses 6. Outside of these recesses are ears 6, bent to form half-bearings for the hinge-pin and cooperating with the bearing parts 5 of the member 5. These ears 6 are also. arranged to limit the opening movement of the two members. (See Fig. 3.) Between the re cesses 6 the member 6 is provided with cuts 6*. Between these cuts the metal is pressed in one direction, as shown at 6, while outside of the cuts the metal is pressed in the opposite direction, as shown at 6 forming openings 6 and bearings for the hinge-pin.

When the two members are assembled, the bearing parts 5 of the member 5 enter the recesses 6 of the member 6. The parts 6 occupy a position corresponding to the parts 5, and the parts 6 occupya position corresponding to that of the parts 5 The body portion 6 of the member 6 is formed of suitable width to pass through the opening 5 of the member 5 and is provided with a bent end 6 adapted'to spring over the eye 5 and lock the members in the closed position in opposition to the spring 5 which bears against the body portion of the member 6 and has a tendency to open the clasp members.

A ring 7, engaging the eye 5 is provided with a tongue 7, which is arranged to protrude through an opening formed at the base of the spring 5 By turning the ring in its eye to the position shown in Fig. 3 the part 6 is disengaged from the member 5, allowing the spring to throw the members to the wideopen position.

The jaw extremity of the member 5 is pro vided with a circular groove 5, adapted to re- 'ceive a cooperating annular flange 6 formed on the corresponding extremity of the member 6. These members are also provided with cooperating exterior flanges 5 and 6, respectively, these flanges extending at right angles to the flange 6 when the jaws are closed. The recess or groove 5 is closed on the side opposite that from which the flange 6 enters. The inner Wall of the groove 5 surrounds an opening 5, formed in the jaw of the member 5, and the flange 6 surrounds an opening 6, formed in the jaw of the memher 6.

in assembling the parts the part 6 of the member 6 is passed through the opening 5 in the part 5 until the hinge-pin-bearing parts of the two members are in the proper position to receive the pin 8, which is then ilk sorted and its extremities upset suiiiciently to prevent it from slipping out.

From the foregoing description the use of my improved garment-clasp will be readily understood. When closed, the members are locked securely and the jaws take a firm hold of, but are so constructed that they do not cut or injure even, the most delicate fabric.

It is evident that the inner wall of the groove 5 passes into the opening or inside of the flange 6 of the cooperating jaw. Hence the inner flange of the said groove is a very'import-ant feature and gives the device great holding strength or capacity.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A garment-clasp comprising two hinged members, one having a jaw provided with a. circular groove, and the other a codperating jaw provided with an annular flange adapted to engage said groove, which is inclosed by two concentric walls, between which the flange of the other jaw passes.

2. A garment-clasp comprising two hinged members, one having a jaw provided with a central opening and an annular groove, and the other having a jaw provided with a central opening and a flange adapted to enter the said groove of the cocperating jaw.

3. A garment-clasp comprising two hinged members, one having a jaw provided with an opening and an annular groove surrounding said opening, and a flange extending at right angles to the walls of the said groove, the other member having a oodperating jaw provided with av flange adapted to enter the groove of the first-named jaw, and provided with an exterior flange extending at right angles to the first-named flange.

4. A garment-clasp comprising two crossed members, hinged at their intersection, and provided at one extremity with codperating jaws, the opposite extremity of one member being bent to form a locking-hook, adapted to engage the corresponding extremity of the opposite member, one memberbein g provided with a spring adapted to hold the jaws open when unlocked, and means attached to one member adapted to disengage the lockinghoolr of. the other member.

5. A garment-clasp comprising two members, hinged at their intersection, and having cooperating jaws located on one side of the hinge, one of the said members being bent to form a spring, adapted to engage the other member, and normally hold the jaws open,

and a ring engaging the eye formed by the bend in the said member, and having a tongue adapted to disengage the other member,which is provided with a spring locking-hook.

6. A garment-clasp composed of two members having cooperating jaws, one jaw having two concentric walls and the other a circular flange adapted to pass between said Walls, one member having a central opening, through which the body portion of the other member is adapted to pass, the two parts being cut and pressed in opposite directions to form hinge-pin openings and bearings, and a suitable hinge-pin for connecting the two members.

7. A garment-clasp composed of two members having cooperating jaws, one jaw having two concentric walls and the other a circular flange adapted to pass between said walls, the said members being cut, and the metal thereof being pressed in opposite directions to form hinge'pin openings and bearings, one of the said members having ears adapted to limit the opening movement of the said members and a hinge-pin connecting the two members.

8. A garment-clasp composed of male and female members having cooperating jaws,one member having a central opening, and cuts formed on opposite sides of said opening, the metal being pressed in opposite directions to form hinge-pin openings and bearings, the body portion of the other member passing through the opening in the first-named memher, and also provided with cuts, the metal being pressed in opposite directions to form hinge-pin openings and bearings, arranged to cooperate with those of the first-named member, and a hingepin connecting the two members.

9. A garment-clasp composed of male and female members, one member having a central opening, and cuts formed on opposite sides of said opening, the metal being pressed in opposite directions to form hinge-pin openings and bearings, the body portion of the other member passing through the opening in the first-named member, and provided with cuts, the metal being pressed in opposite directions to form hinge-pin openings and bearings arranged to cooperate with those'of the first-named member, the male member having ears overlapping the female member on opposite sides of the opening, said ears formi ng stops which limit the opening movement of the members, and a hinge-pin connecting the two members.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELISHA I). HINKLEY.

Witnesses:

A. .l. OBRIEN, NELLIE G. Dnnrnns. 

